San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-21


kill that MANI Come, Miriama"-put-
ting his arm round her and drawing
her head down on his breast-"yOu
must not rejOin our friends with tears
in your eyes. The men would nod
their heads ano say, 'EIa. TIE ORR has
but an unwilling bride after ALI See
she weeps!' Ti4ere-that is betterl"-
as at his last words she raised her head
proudly, while the blood rushed into
her checks at the thought Of a slight
being cast upon her idol.
I'VE will go then, TIE ORR. MiTiama
is happy now-ah, so happy, so happy|
And hand in hand like two children,
they turned from the beach and went
back TO the kainga. A feast was going
on in honor OF the marriage, for Ie Orr
was the only son of the chief. As the
bride and bridegroom approached. they
could hear the cultural tones of the
men telling OF their exploits in battle,
the shrill voices of the women, and the
shouts Of the children at play. Every
one seemed happy; and Miriama. now
that all her vague doubts and lOngings
had been set at rest, joined in the fun
heartily.
The 'feasting and rejoicing went on
for some days, then the guests departed
and left the young couple to settle
down to their new life. How full of
happiness were the months that fol-
lowedl No cloud appeared on their
horizon. TIE ORR, as time went on, was
more devoted to his little girl-wife than
ever. Then, to crown their Joy, was
born to them a son, whose pure baby
spirit looked at them out of big,
solemn, wistful eyes, like his mothers
own.
The old chief lived but to bless his
little grandson, and then closed his
eyes in the last long sleep; and TIE ORR
reigned in his stead.
Time proved him to be a far more
ambitious chief than his good old father
had been. He trained his men care
fully, and they throve and prospered
accordingly. They did not now suffer
from want in winter, when no corn
ripened and no melons grew, for there
was abundance grown in the summer
and stored for use. The neighboring
tribes, though looking on at their plen-
tiful supplies with hungry, greedy eyes,
dared not swoop down and help them
selves, for they knew that TIE Ori's sub
jects were more than able to take care
of themselves.
In TIE Ori's private home too all was
sunshine. Miriama had bloomed into
the handsomest woman of the tribe;
his boy, TIE Whoree, was strong and
healthy; and there was now baby
girls voice growing and laughing in his
Uhdre.
Something Of all this was in his
thoughts one day as he leaned over the
fence inclOsing plantation, and gazed
complacently about him. His reverie
was broken by laughing voice at his
side.
"Of what is my husband thinking so
deeply? Does he not know that the
evening meal is waiting? Come;
Mlriama is hungry, and so are our
children"
"Miriama, we are very happy. The
Great Spirit who rules the sun and the
waves has been good to us. Yes; we
are happy! We love each other; our
children are healthy; our tribe is con-
tented; our corn fiOurishes, and all is
well with us. If Winiata, my father,
could come back from the spirit-land,
he would say, My son, you are great
er chief than was your father, even as
oH lie Whoree will go on improving
till the same can be said of him. But
am like woman; my tongue ways.
COme!"-and together they moved
away TO the "KOppa Maori" which was
being opened for supper.
AS they drew near, a baby in the
arms of girl jumped and crowed, and
MiTiama, taking her, held her up to her
fathers gaze.
Little Miriama!" he said, softly pass
ing his hand over the little black head
nestled against the mothers bosom,
and looking at both with pleased happy
eyes.
Moot that, TIE Ori must be your
only Miriama," returned his wife ear
nestly. Call her something else"
He looked surprised, as he often did
at some of her speeches. He did not
know that in the woman's passionate,
sensitive nature were depths which he
could not gauge.
A few days later TIE ORR, with some
Of the men, started on fortnight's
expedition. When Miriama first heard
Of it, she chung to her husband tremb-
ling and sobbing.
Don't go, TIE ORR! Send the others,
and you stay home with me. The light
goes from my eyes and the joy from my
heart when you are away. Do-do
stay with mew-and she threw her
arms about his neck in an agony of en-
treaty.
"Miriama forgets she is the wife of
a great chief when she bids him stay
at home like an old woman" and he
put her coldly out Of his arms, and
went to complete his preparations.
Two or three hours later she stood
on the beach to watch them depart.
Nearly all the tribe had gathered there;
but she stood apart, with her baby in
her arms, and TIE Whoree playing with
the shells at her feet.
Presently TIE ORR came up to her.
"The canoes are ready, the men wait.
Goodbye, Miriamal"-and, taking the
baby in his arms, he caresses her ten
derby, and then stopped to the boy.
But TIE Whoree began to plead eager
ly to be taken with him.
Better stay with your mother, my
boy"
But the child began to cry. TIE ORR
turned to his wife.
What does the mother of the boy
sayp Shall he gop"
NAY; Miriama is but a woman-her
voice must not be heard. 1t must be
as the chief says" and she looked
down that he might not detect the pain
she was suffering.
He looked at her searchingly for a
moment, then motioned to one of the
men to place the child in the canoe.
Miriama made no objection, but. tax
ing Tie Whoree in her arms, strained
him to her heart as though she could
never let him go. Releasing him at
last, she took her husbands hand, and,
pressing it against her breast, said
TREMENDOUSLY